A BASINGSTOKE family doctor has been struck off for the second time after a disciplinary hearing found he had lied and forged medical notes to cover his tracks.

Dr Narumanchi Sai Baba treated 2000 patients from surgeries in Popley and Winklebury as well as at his home in Reading Road, Chineham.

A disciplinary committee of the General Medical Council found on Friday that Dr Baba, 54, had made up notes about his treatment of pensioner Charles Walker, 74, who fell ill on Christmas Day 1995 and died in hospital four months later.

The committee ruled that Baba had lied about what happened on two occasions when he visited Mr Walker in January 1996.

They also ruled that he had not taken "any or adequate steps" to investigate Mr Walker's condition.

Baba claimed at the hearing that Mr Walker had refused to undergo tests and was nipping out from his home to buy cigarettes and beer.

Baba was originally struck off in Janaury last year over the same case. But he appealed to the Privy Council, which ordered this week's rehearing of the case.

The chairman of the GMC's professional conduct committee, which heard the case over two days, told Baba: "These are very serious findings and we are in no doubt that together they amount to serious professional misconduct."

The chairman, Professor Denis McDevitt, added: "The only proper course is to direct the registrar to erase your name from the register."

He continued: "It is necessary for the protection of members of the public that you are suspended forthwith. It is essential to general medical practice that a doctor is honest and trustworthy."

He said Baba had been in "serious breach" of that trust.

For more on this story see The Monday Gazette